On February 11, 2009, the AP news wire released the following story:
(LAS VEGAS, Nev.)—A man in town to watch the NCAA basketball tournament hit a $38.7 million jackpot on Friday, the biggest slot machine payout ever. The 25-year-old software engineer from Los Angeles, whose name was not released at his request, won after putting three $1 coins in a machine at the Excalibur hotel-casino, said Rick Sorensen, a spokesman for slot machine maker International Game Technology.
a) How can the Excalibur afford to give away millions of dollars on a $3 bet?
b) Why was the maker willing to make a statement? Wouldn't most businesses want to keep such a huge loss quiet?